Benning century puts Surrey in command

Surrey took firm control of the first day of their match against Bangladesh A at The Oval, racking up 336 for 5 before declaring. Bangladesh A made 45 without loss by the close on a decent wicket, but the day belonged to the home side. James Benning made 124 before being run out, and there were half-centuries for Richard Clinton, Andrew Hodd and Ian Salisbury. Hodd and Salisbury shared an unbeaten stand of 105 before Mark Butcher called time on the innings.

Surrey took the opportunity to blood their 17-year-old batsman Rory Hamilton, but he made just 5 before being bowled by Enamul Haque Jnr, the second of his two wickets. There were failures, too, for Scott Newman, who made 8, and Butcher, who reached 5 on his return.

Other young players were included in the home side's team for experience, with 19-year-old Jade Dernbach opening the bowling; he had six overs for 32, and Hodd, the wicketkeeper/batsman striking an unbeaten fifty. Shahriar Nafees and Mehrab Hossain Jnr had started to build the visitors' reply and they will look to cement a solid partnership when play gets underway again on Thursday.